Auslan Pathways

If you are a native English-speaker, you will need to provide evidence of either:

• Completing your primary and secondary education (equivalent to Australian secondary education year 12) at an institution/s where English was the primary language of instruction; or
• Completing your secondary (equivalent to Australian secondary education year 12) and tertiary education at an institution/s where English was the primary language of instruction.

Any evidence provided must show the number of years completed (i.e. 2013- 2017).

If you are not a native English-speaker, NAATI will consider evidence of:

1. Completion of a formal English proficiency test;

This could include:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test – General
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language – Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) – Academic
• Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) Test
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) English Test
• International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) English Test

2. Or completion of a tertiary qualification (degree level or higher) where:

• The language of instruction was English; and
• English proficiency, comparable or greater than NAATI’s requirements, is an entry requirement for this qualification.

Please consult the NAATI website for more detailed information.

If you have completed a NAATI Endorsed Qualification, you will have automatically satisfied this requirement and will not need to provide additional evidence.

If you have completed ethical training at a Higher Education (HE) or Vocational Education and Training (VET) institution within the last three years you will need to attach evidence of completing this training. NAATI may exempt you from having to sit a screening test based on this evidence.

You do not need to apply separately to sit an ethical competency screening test. NAATI will make a determination and will advise you of whether you need to sit these screening tests once we begin processing your submitted certification application.

The purpose of the ethical competency test is to:

• Determine whether you have the required ethical competency for translation and interpreting practice;
• Enable examiners to make inferences about your ability to behave ethically; and
• Determine your eligibility for the credential you applied for.

The ethical competency test will assess your:

• Knowledge of the relevant code of ethics – ASLIA Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct (2007);
• Ability to identify ethical dilemmas in a broad range of interpreting and translation situations; and
• Ability to apply the relevant principle/action in the code to the situation.

The test will consist of:

1. Question type A: answering three (no choice) Knowledge-based short answer questions; and
2. Question type B: answering three from a choice of five Scenario-based short answer questions.

Each short answer is expected to be 100-150 words.

Time allowed: One and a half hours.

If you have completed a NAATI Endorsed Qualification, you will have automatically satisfied this requirement and will not need to provide additional evidence.

If you have completed other Deaf cultural training at a:

• Higher Education (HE) or Vocational Education and Training (VET) institution; or
• Recognised Deaf organisation (e.g. Deaf Society, Expression Australia)

within the last three years, to attach evidence of completing this training. NAATI may exempt you from having to sit a screening test based on this evidence.

You do not need to apply separately to sit an intercultural competency screening test. NAATI will make a determination and will advise you of whether you need to sit these screening tests once we begin processing your submitted certification application.

The purpose of the intercultural competency test is to:

• Determine whether you have the required intercultural competency for translation and interpreting practice;
• Enable examiners to make inferences about your ability to appropriately identify and reflect cultural references in the source and target languages and manage intercultural issues during practice; and
• determine your eligibility for the credential you applied for.

The intercultural competency test will assess your:

• Knowledge of social, political and cultural institutions in Australia and within the Deaf community;
• Ability to identify culturally and socio-linguistically specific information in an interpreting situation; and
• Ability to respond to intercultural issues that may complicate communication in translation and/or interpreting assignments.

The test will consist of:

1. Question type A: answering three from a choice of four Knowledge- based short answer questions, and
2. Question type B: answering three from a choice of five Scenario-based short answer questions.

Each short answer is expected to be 100-150 words.

Time allowed: One and a half hours

Eligibility Pathway

1. You must have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (diploma level or higher – AQF level 5 or comparable) no more than three years prior to the date of your application.
2. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed interpreting qualification (diploma level or higher – AQF level 5 or comparable);
   • Be able to provide evidence of your English language proficiency (at the appropriate level); and
   • Meet the requirements for ethical competency and intercultural competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s).You must already hold a current Recognised Practicing Interpreter credential (in any language) or other NAATI Interpreter Certification (in any language).
3. You must already hold a current Recognised Practicing Interpreter credential (in any language) or other NAATI Interpreter Certification (in any language)
4. You must:
   • Have completed at least 40 hours’ worth of AQF units (e.g. 4x Diploma of Interpreting units) no more than three years prior to the date of your application. These units must be recognised by NAATI and must cover interpreting theory and/or practice;
   • Be able to provide evidence of your English language proficiency (at the appropriate level); and
   • Meet the requirements for ethical competency and intercultural competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s)

Certification Test Format

The Certified Provisional Interpreter test consists of three tasks:

• Two Simultaneous interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks; and
• One Simultaneous interpreting monologue into Auslan task.

Each task will involve a different situation from a different domain.

Recertification Requirements

You will need to provide NAATI with evidence of:

• Ongoing work practice: 40 assignments (or hours) per year for interpreters; and
• Continuous professional development: 40 PD points per year.

Ongoing certification will be dependent on ethical and professional conduct by the practitioner.

Eligibility Pathway

1. You must have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (advanced diploma level or higher – AQF level 6 or comparable) no more than three years prior to the date of your application.
2. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed interpreting qualification (advanced diploma level or higher – AQF level 6 or comparable);
   • Be able to provide evidence of your English language proficiency (at the appropriate level); and
   • Meet the requirements for ethical competency and intercultural competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s).
3. You must already hold a current Certified Interpreter, Certified Specialist Interpreter or Certified Conference Interpreter credential in another language.
4. You must:
   • Have a current Certified Provisional Interpreter (Auslan & English) credential;
   • Be able to provide evidence of at least three years’ work experience as an Auslan & English interpreter; and
   • Be able to provide evidence of completing professional development activities to support advanced practice competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s).

Certification Test Format

The Certified Interpreter test consists of five tasks:

• Two Simultaneous Interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks;
• One Sight Translation into Auslan task (related to the second face to face dialogue task);
• One Simultaneous Interpreting – Monologue into Auslan task; and
• One Simultaneous Interpreting – Monologue into English task.

The tasks will involve different situations from different domains, including at least one from the health domain and one from the legal domain

Recertification Requirements

You will need to provide NAATI with evidence of:

• Ongoing work practice: 40 assignments (or hours) per year for interpreters; and
• Continuous professional development: 40 PD points per year.

Ongoing certification will be dependent on ethical and professional conduct by the practitioner.

Eligibility Pathway

1. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in legal interpreting) no more than six years prior to the date of application – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable)
   • Provide evidence of at least two years’ interpreting work experience in the language combination
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination.
2. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI non-endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in legal interpreting) no more than six years prior to the date of application – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable)
   • Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination.
3. You must hold a current NAATI Certified Specialist Interpreter (Legal) in another language.
4. You must:
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination
   • Provide evidence of at least six years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Complete 50 hours Professional Development activities in the area of specialisation over four years to support advanced practice
5. You must:
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination
   • Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Hold legal qualifications at bachelor’s degree level or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable

Certification Test Format

The test will be in both language directions.  

Each test will consist of five tasks:  

1. One legal Knowledge Test (English)
2. One simultaneous and/or consecutive interpreting (dialogic extracts) task – both Auslan and English
3. One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task– English into Auslan
4. One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task– Auslan into English
5. One simultaneous interpreting (monolingual exchange) task – English into Auslan  

The Knowledge Test is an online test which covers a broad range of knowledge in the legal field, advanced interpreting knowledge, and ethical and intercultural competence as relevant to legal interpreting. Interpreting Tasks will be based on real-life exchanges as encountered by interpreters in specialised legal contexts, at the level of experts communicating in an expert setting. Tasks will cover different legal domains and types of courts.  

Approximate length: 4 hours (Knowledge Test: 3 hours; Interpreting Tasks: 1 hour) 

Recertification Requirements

You will need to provide NAATI with evidence of:

• Ongoing work practice: 40 assignments (or hours) per year for interpreters; and
• Continuous professional development: 40 PD points per year.

Ongoing certification will be dependent on ethical and professional conduct by the practitioner.

Eligibility Pathway

1. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in health interpreting) no more than six years prior to the date of application – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable)
   • Provide evidence of at least two years’ interpreting work experience in the language combination
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination.
2. You must:
   • Have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI non-endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in health interpreting) no more than six years prior to the date of application – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable)
   • Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination.
3. You must hold a current NAATI Certified Specialist Interpreter (Health) in another language.
4. You must:
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination
   • Provide evidence of at least six years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Complete 50 hours Professional Development activities in the area of specialisation over four years to support advanced practice
5. You must:
   • Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination
   • Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation
   • Hold health qualifications at bachelor’s degree level or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable

Certification Test Format

The test will be in both language directions.  

Each test will consist of five tasks:  

1. One health Knowledge Test (English)
2. One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task – English into Auslan
3. One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task – Auslan into English
4. One simultaneous interpreting (monolingual exchange) task – English into Auslan
5. One Simultaneous Interpreting (mental health – monologue) task – Auslan into English 

The Knowledge Test is an online test which covers a broad range of knowledge in the health field, advanced interpreting knowledge, and ethical and intercultural competence as relevant to health interpreting. Interpreting Tasks will be based on real-life exchanges as encountered by interpreters in specialised health contexts. Tasks will cover different sub-domains within health and at least one task will relate to mental health.  

Approximate length: 4 hours (Knowledge Test: 3 hours; Interpreting Tasks: 1 hour) 

Recertification Requirements

You will need to provide NAATI with evidence of:

• Ongoing work practice: 40 assignments (or hours) per year for interpreters; and
• Continuous professional development: 40 PD points per year.

Ongoing certification will be dependent on ethical and professional conduct by the practitioner.

Eligibility Pathway

1. • You must have graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed conference interpreting qualification (master’s degree level or higher – AQF level 9 or comparable) no more than three years prior to the date of your application.
   • Recommended to have at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience in the language combination.
2. You must have:
   • Graduated (or be eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed conference interpreting qualification (master’s degree level or higher – AQF level 9 or comparable); and
   • Meet the requirements for ethical competency and intercultural competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s).
   • Recommended to have at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience in the language combination.
3. You must already hold a current Certified Conference Interpreter credential in another language.
4. You must:
   • Be able to provide evidence of current AIIC membership as conference interpreter in Auslan & English; and
   • Meet the requirements for ethical competency (which may involve sitting a screening test
5. You must:
   • Have a current Certified Interpreter (Auslan & English) credential;
   • Be able to provide evidence of at least three years’ Auslan & English interpreting work experience at CI level or above; and
   • Be able to provide evidence of completing professional development activities to support advanced practice

Certification Test Format

There will be separate tests for the Certified Conference Interpreter – Auslan into English and English into Auslan.

Each test will consist of three tasks:

• Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of a seen speech
• Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech (long)
• Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech (short)

Speeches will be based on real-life speeches and presentations in national and international settings, like conferences, meetings and official events, at the level of experts communicating with expert and non-expert audiences. Each speech will come from a different domain and setting. Approximate length: 1 hour

Recertification Requirements

You will need to provide NAATI with evidence of:

• Ongoing work practice: 40 assignments (or hours) per year for interpreters; and
• Continuous professional development: 40 PD points per year.

Ongoing certification will be dependent on ethical and professional conduct by the practitioner.